STAND. COM. REP. NO. 317-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2791
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2791, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the viability of the
papaya industry by appropriating funds to support the papaya
industry on the island of Hawaii.

     The Hawaii Papaya Industry Association testified in support
of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) testified in
support of the bill, provided that the bill does not replace or
adversely affect the priorities indicated in DOA's Executive
Biennium Budget.  The University of Hawaii College of Tropical
Agriculture and Human Resources submitted comments on the bill.

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of funding research
and control efforts to contain the devastation caused by pests to
the State's papaya industry.

     Upon consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Broadening the scope of the appropriation to make it
          applicable to papaya research and the control of pests
          that afflict the papaya industry statewide;


 
 
 
 
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     (2)  Inserting the appropriation sum of $1 to facilitate
          further discussion on the financial aspect of the bill;
          and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2791, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2791, H.D.
2, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Agriculture,



                                   ______________________________
                                   FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair